TOTAL CREDIT POINTS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM

The Master of Professional Psychology program includes coursework units which contain a blend of professional psychology research theory and practice, together with a minimum of 280 hours of supervised placement activity.

Students completing this course the program will have acquired skills required to undertake a Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) approved 6th-year internship and, in turn, to undertake the National Psychology Registration Exam and complete the process of registration as a psychologist.

The Program is structured so as to provide a logical progression from core knowledge and skills to more specialised training, in accordance with key professional practice goals and standards, while also allowing for the integration of coursework with mandatory placement requirements.

It aims to produce graduates who:
• have the knowledge and skills required to complete the 6th-year internship and, in due course, undertake independent professional psychology practice
• are competent, ethical, reflective and responsible practitioners who can engage clients in a broad range of professional practice settings
• demonstrate commitment to the scientist-practitioner model of professional practice
• communicate effectively and work collaboratively with clients and their families fellow health professionals, and the wider community
• are independent thinkers who are able to analyse and synthesise relevant information and readily apply their knowledge and skills to new environments and situations
• demonstrate leadership and advocacy capabilities and a commitment to life-long learning in professional psychology practice.

Graduate Capabilities

The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:

Interpersonal or social capabilities(C) effective communication(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible

Personal capabilities(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative(L) commitment to continuous learning

Program Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program students will be able to:

1. demonstrate the depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding required to meet Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) standards for the Master of Professional Psychology qualification (K, A, E, J)
2. carry out psychological assessments and interventions taking into account client needs, values and circumstances, and making use of the best available clinical experience and research evidence (K, T, P, E, C, I, J)
3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the legislative frameworks relevant to professional psychology practice and willingness and ability to practise according to professional standards and PsyBA code of ethics (K, T, P, C, E, J)
4. undertake systematic enquiry and apply research skills and critical thinking when designing and evaluating professional psychology projects and practice experiences, interpreting relevant literature and generating new knowledge (K, T, P, C, E, J)
5. communicate effectively across a wide range of client presentations and multidisciplinary treatment teams and function empathically with clients from different cultures, backgrounds and life stages (K, T, P, C, E, J)
6. demonstrate the entry level capabilities required of practising professional psychologists, the means to assess professional development needs, and the ability to apply the knowledge and skills learned in coursework to real-world practice (A, K, T, L, P, C, I, J, E)

Learning and Teaching Methods

Learning and teaching methods are premised on the philosophy that students learn best when they are fully engaged in the content. Accordingly, methods have been designed to foster the deep acquisition of professional practice knowledge and skills, along with critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. They include the use of workshop-based learning involving a mixture of theory and practice skills and present material in innovative, interactive ways that clearly demonstrate its relevance to real-world situations. In this way, coursework learning complements and is complemented by placement activity. Specific methods include: lectures and workshops incorporating small-group activities such as role playing and practical skills training; individual and group viewing of selected professional practice DVDs; interaction with other students and with members of staff on iLearn; and guest presentations by leading, innovative practitioners.

Assessment

Program assessments are designed tap the knowledge, skills and personal attributes required for ethical professional psychology practice and to ensure that students achieve an appropriate level of competency as required by APAC, while also meeting MQ graduate capabilities and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) requirements for Masters Programs and addressing unit specific learning outcomes. Methods of assessment include:
• Live skills assessments whereby students are required to demonstrate practice skills and reasoning to fellow students and staff members
• Appropriately formatted written assignments including case reports and studies, professional development plans, literature reviews and research proposals
• Individual and group audio and/or video submissions whereby students demonstrate a skill with fellow students and/or clients
• Individual and group oral presentations of professional practice topics to fellow students and academic staff
• professional practice logbooks formatted according to PsyBA guidelines for placement activity
• mid- and end-of-placement reviews of placement activity conducted by the Program Practica and Skills Training Coordinator

Recognition of Prior Learning

Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy (see www.mq.edu.au/policy) and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. The RPL pages contain information on how to apply, links to registers, and the approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit.

Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.

The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders.

Graduate Destinations and Employability

Graduates of the Master of Professional Psychology program are competitive in obtaining paid employment as provisionally registered psychologists for the purpose of completing the 6th-year of supervised placement. Having obtained registration, graduates of the Program find work in a broad range of professional practice settings that draw on their skills in assessment and intervention, including: government departments, non-government organisations, hospital/clinic settings, such as paediatric, geriatric, drug and alcohol and rehabilitation; human resource management; workplace and career counselling; occupational health and safety; and private practice.

Assessment Regulations

This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy.

Accreditation

This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited qualification.
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) is the accrediting authority. This program has been awarded ACCREDITATION WITH CONDITIONS until the APAC standard 2.3.8 (June 2010) aligns with the current AQF specifications for nomenclature of this degree.